There have been a slew of arguments about whether more money can buy more wins in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League.

No exact correlation was found between team payroll and winning, but many teams believe buying more top players can ensure more wins.

That belief can be seen in the Lotte Giants as its returning slugger Lee Dae-ho who is earning the highest KBO salary this season of 2.5 billion won ($2.2 million), has the league's highest batting average (.374 as of Tuesday), and the Kia Tigers' slugger Choi Hyung-woo, who makes the third highest salary of 1.5 billion won has the highest on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.181.

However, it is always heart-warming when players who earn much less stand out among the top players.

In the league, where a player earns 138.83 million won on average and 301 players make less than 50 million won a year, the Samsung Lions outfielder Kim Heon-gon is one of the most cost effective players this season.

The 28-year-old, who is receiving 50 million won this year, is batting .278 with 35 hits including four home runs and leads his team in RBIs with 22. The RBIs he earned are four more than his teammate Lee Seung-yuop, who is making 1 billion won in his retirement season.

SK Wyverns' Han Dong-min also distinguishes himself from the top earning players. The 27-year-old outfielder, who is being paid 70 million won this year, has hit 11 home runs this year, one less than the league leader and his teammate Choi Jeong.

Another Wyverns outfielder Kim Dong-yeop, who bats fourth, receives only 47 million won this year, but he has already blasted eight home runs, which is two more than he hit last year. Both Kim and Han garnered 27 RBIs, helping the team lead the league in OPS (.785).

KT Wiz closer Kim Jae-yoon first joined his team in the 2015 season as a catcher but soon changed his position to pitcher. After collecting 14 saves last season, Kim has stood on his tiptoes as one of the top closers in the league.

The 26-year-old, who receives 90 million this year, has been having a zero ERA while collecting 10 saves in 14 games. The saves he earned are only one less than the league leader Lim Chang-yong of the Kia Tigers.

Kim's teammate Ko Young-pyo also has established himself as a key cost effective player. The 25-year-old sidearm pitcher, who is earning 52 million won this season, has recorded four wins and three losses with an ERA of 3.25 in 44.1 innings as his team's fifth starting pitcher.

The Tigers' sidearm starter Lim Ki-young has been one of the pivotal players in helping his team lead the league in the standings. The 24-year-old, who is receiving 31 million won this year, has the league's fourth best ERA of 1.94 while collecting four wins in seven starts.